1-Bedroom Hot Tub Cabin in Kinniside - Fun Days Out

Muncaster Castle overlooks the River Esk, about a mile from Ravenglass. It is a Grade I listed building, still home to the Pennington family, with a 14th-century pele tower and a Great Hall among its oldest parts. Inside you can see "The Luck of Muncaster", a Venetian glass bowl said to have been given to the family by Henry VI.

Outside, the gardens take in views of the Esk Valley and the fells. The Hawk & Owl Centre has owls and other birds of prey, with flying displays held at the centre and on The Flying Meadow. Children and adults can have a go at axe throwing and archery in The Weapons Hall, and there is an indoor field vole maze too. The Stables Cafe and gift shops are on site. It suits families, history fans and anyone who likes birds.

Tip: Combine it with a ride on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway using the joint ticket, booked online through the railway's website.

The Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick tells the story of the pencil, from its beginnings as a cottage industry to modern production. You enter through a replica graphite mine, a nod to the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago, then follow the journey of graphite and pencil discovery.

Highlights include secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps, miniature pencil sculptures, the Queen's diamond Jubilee pencil, and one of the largest colour pencils in the world at almost 8 metres long. The first pencil factory opened in Keswick in 1832.

It's described as a great day out for the family. There's a coffee shop and a gift shop, plus baby changing facilities and free Wi-Fi. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Tip: The car park outside isn't owned or run by the museum, uses ANPR cameras and needs payment on arrival, so check the car park notices.

Castlerigg is a Neolithic stone circle on a prominent hill east of Keswick, in the Lake District National Park. English Heritage calls it one of the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles. The stones are glacial boulders of volcanic rock, set in a flattened ring with an unusual rectangle of extra stones inside it. Estimates of the age and the number of stones vary, but it dates from the late Neolithic and is thousands of years old.

The setting is the main draw. The circle sits on a plateau at the centre of a natural amphitheatre of fells, and from inside you can pick out peaks such as Helvellyn, Skiddaw and Blencathra. It is the most visited stone circle in Cumbria. It suits anyone who likes ancient sites and big views. Dogs on leads are welcome, but the site is grazed by sheep.

Tip: Parking at the site is limited. Walking from the centre of Keswick takes about 30 minutes, so consider that or public transport.

Dove Cottage is the whitewashed Lakeland house on the edge of Grasmere where William Wordsworth lived with his sister Dorothy. It is a Grade I listed building that remains largely unchanged from Wordsworth's day. Visits begin with an introductory tour led by a member of the team, taking you through rooms with slate floors and oak panelling.

Outside, you can explore the garden and orchard the Wordsworths loved, along with the woodland around the cottage. There is also an interactive museum with hands-on activities, a special exhibition gallery and a viewing platform with views across the vale of Grasmere. The site has a café, and the Wordsworth Trust looks after a Designated collection of Romantic manuscripts and art. Family tickets are available.

Tip: Entry to the cottage is at timed slots, so book ahead online to secure your tour.

Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic building on the west shore of Windermere, looked after by the National Trust. The parkland has waymarked trails that start at the front of the castle, and the lakeshore has a shingle beach with easy access to the water. You can also see a Gothic Revival boathouse with a miniature harbour, and an arboretum of giant exotic firs, sequoias, cedar and veteran oaks.

The castle has a literary link: Beatrix Potter stayed here on a family holiday in 1882, and it helped spark her love of the Lake District. There is an independently run café, Joey's, for coffee, baked goods and snacks. It suits walkers, families and anyone who likes lake views and a gentler day by the water. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and café.

Tip: You can arrive without a car: the Windermere Lake Cruises Green Cruise calls at Wray jetty from Ambleside, and it is a short walk up to the castle and café.

Carlisle Castle guarded the western end of the Anglo-Scottish border for hundreds of years and survived seven sieges by the Scots between 1174 and 1461. It was later adapted for artillery, and in 1568 it held Mary Queen of Scots prisoner. It stayed in military use well into the 20th century.

You can explore the Tudor battery, the 12th-century gatehouse and the recently conserved keep, which has 15th-century carvings on its second floor. Other things to see and do include Queen Mary's Tower, the Warden's apartments and an exhibition. Inside the castle is Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, which covers the Border Regiment's 300-year history. There is also a World Builder trail where you can build your own city.

Tip: Booking advance tickets online saves 15%, and arriving by bus, train or bike gets you 20% off entry at the site on the day.

The Bowder Stone is a huge andesite lava boulder in Borrowdale, balanced on its side after falling from the crag above thousands of years ago. It stands about 30 feet high and is thought to weigh around 2,000 tons. Today the National Trust cares for it.

You can climb the ladder to the top, as visitors have done since Georgian times, when Joseph Pocklington fenced off the site, built a ladder and employed a guide. It remained a popular stop through the Victorian era. The boulder is also one of the best-known bouldering venues in the Lake District, so you may see climbers at work. Walkers, history fans and anyone curious about odd landmarks will enjoy it. Dogs are welcome at National Trust outdoor properties in the valley if kept under close control, and there is an accessible path to the stone.

Tip: There is a National Trust car park at Bowderstone (CA12 5XA) about a 15-minute walk from the stone. Check the National Trust Borrowdale page for current parking details before you go.

The Ruskin Museum sits in the heart of Coniston village and tells the story of the area, from Stone Age axe-makers to the speed record era of the 1950s and 60s. It was founded in 1901 as a memorial to John Ruskin, and his collection is still housed here.

Inside, the Coniston Gallery covers copper mining, slate quarrying, 500 million year old rocks, Herdwick sheep farming and pioneering rock climbers. You'll also find the sailing dinghy Mavis, linked to Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons, and the world's largest collection of Ruskin Lace. The Bluebird Wing is home to Donald Campbell's hydroplane Bluebird K7. Outside, the grounds hold Riverdale, a collection of over sixty miniature houses, bridges and farm buildings.

It suits anyone curious about Lake District history, Campbell's record attempts or Ruskin's work.

Tip: The museum marks the start of the Coniston Coppermines Trail, so you can pair a visit with a walk.